Fuel tank closure with cap-ejector spring

ABSTRACT

A fuel tank closure system ( 10 ) includes a filler neck ( 12 ) and a fuel cap ( 14 ) engageable with filler neck ( 12 ). Fuel cap ( 14 ) includes a closure ( 16 ), a seal ( 18 ) coupled to closure ( 16 ) to engage filler neck ( 12 ), and a spring ( 20 ). Closure ( 16 ) includes a handle ( 24 ) and a lug ( 34 ) engageable with filler neck ( 12 ). Handle ( 24 ) is adapted to move lug ( 34 ) between an engaged position securing closure ( 16 ) in an axially and a disengaged position permitting closure ( 16 ) to move between axially inner and outer positions. Spring ( 20 ) moves closure ( 16 ) relative to filler neck ( 12 ) to the axially outer position while lug ( 34 ) is in the disengaged position.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to British Patent Application SerialNo. 9804948.9, filed Mar. 10, 1998, which is expressly incorporated byreference herein.

This invention relates to a fuel cap for a filler neck of a tank such asthe fuel tank of a motor vehicle of the type in which lugs on the fuelcap are brought into engagement with complimentary formations on thefiller neck by relative angular movement about the central axis of thefiller neck. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively,applicable to fuel caps of the type having a bayonet connection to thefiller neck.

In recent years, there has been a tendency to design fuel caps of thetype described above so as to minimize the range of angular movement ofthe fuel cap to cause full engagement with the filler neck. This hascreated a risk that a user may inadvertently fail to secure the fuel capproperly with the result that it could become dislodged when the vehicleis in motion.

According to the invention, a fuel cap of the type described above has acompression spring adapted to engage with the filler neck so as to causeoutward movement of the fuel cap relative to the filler neck in theevent that the lugs on the fuel cap are not in engagement with thecomplimentary formations on the filler neck.

If the fuel cap is of the type which normally lies flush with theadjacent surface of the vehicle body when secured, the compressionspring may be arranged to cause displacement of the fuel cap to aposition which is visibly proud of the vehicle body. Similarly, if thefuel cap is located behind a flap which, when closed, lies flush withthe adjacent surface of the vehicle body, the spring may be arranged tocause outward displacement of the fuel cap to such an extent that theflap cannot be closed.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel cap in accordance with theinvention showing the fuel cap aligned with, but spaced apart from, anend of a filler neck;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel cap and filler neck of FIG. 1, withportions broken away, showing the fuel cap fully engaged with the fillerneck; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fuel cap and filler neck of FIG. 1, withportions broken away, showing the fuel cap inserted into the filler neckbut not secured therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show a fuel tank closure system 10 including filler neck 12of a fuel tank 13 and a fuel cap 14 engageable with filler neck 12. Fuelcap 10 includes a closure 16, a seal 18 coupled to closure 16, and acompression spring 20 coupled to closure 16. Closure 12 includes a core22 positioned to extend through a passageway defined by spring 20 and ahandle 24 coupled to core 22. Core 22 includes a body member 26 sized tobe received in filler neck 12, a flange 28 which projects over an end 30of filler neck 12, and a locking bar 32 having lugs 34 which engage withcomplementary formations 36 on filler neck 12. When lugs 34 are inengagement with complementary formations 36 of filler neck 12, seal 18on closure 16 engages with a tapered formation 39 on end 28 of fillerneck 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with the disclosure, compression spring 20 engages flange28 of closure 12 and an axially outer surface 29 on end 30 of fillerneck 12. Compression spring 20 comprises a plastics molding having aring-shaped upper head member 40 abutting against flange 28, aring-shaped lower foot member 42 abutting against end 30 of filler neck12, and a integrally molded flexible connector 44 that interconnectshead and foot members 40, 42. Flexible connector 44 includes a pair ofdiametrically spaced-apart flexible body members 46 that each include afirst pair of curved arms 48 coupled to head member 40, a second pair ofcurved arms 50 spaced apart from first pair of arms 48 and coupled tofoot member 42, and a web member 52 coupled to and positioned to liebetween first and second pair of curved arms 48, 50. First pair of arms48 are convex in an axially inner direction along a central axis 54 offiller neck 12 and second pair of arms 50 are convex in an axially outerdirection along central axis 54.

Filler neck 12 includes central axis 54 and an inner side wall 56defining a hollow 58 in communication with an interior region 60 of fueltank 13. If closure 16 is in an axially inner position along centralaxis 54 so that core 22 is fully inserted into hollow 58 of filler neck12 and lugs 34 on locking bar 32 are in an engaged position so that lugs34 are in engagement with complementary formations 36 on filler neck 12,spring 20 is compressed so that flange 28 is in close proximity to end30 of filler neck 12, as shown in FIG. 2. If handle 24 is moved and lugs34 are in a disengaged position so that lugs 34 are not in engagementwith complementary formations 36 on filler neck 12, closure 16 ismovable between the axially inner position and an axially outer positionand spring 20 moves flange 28 to a spaced-apart position from end 30 offiller neck 12, with closure 16 and seal 18 moved to an axially outerposition along central axis 54, as shown in FIG. 3.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fuel tank closure system comprising a fillerneck having a central axis and an inner wall defining a hollow interiorin fluid communication with an interior region of a fuel tank and a fuelcap engageable with the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, the fuel capincluding a closure, a seal coupled to the closure to engage the fillerneck, and a spring, the closure including a core and a handle coupled tothe core, the core including a body member sized to be received in thefiller neck and a lug coupled to the body member and engageable with thefiller neck, the handle being adapted to move the lug between an engagedposition securing the closure in an axially inner position along thecentral axis and a disengaged position permitting the closure to movebetween the axially inner position and an axially outer position alongthe central axis, the spring being positioned to abut the closure andthe filler neck to move the closure relative to the filler neck to theaxially outer position while the lug is in the disengaged position. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the filler neck includes an axially outersurface and the spring engages the axially outer surface of the fillerneck.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the spring is a compressionspring.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the spring is coupled to theclosure.
 5. A fuel tank closure system comprising a filler neck having acentral axis and an inner wall defining a hollow interior in fluidcommunication with an interior region of a fuel tank and a fuel capengageable with the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, the fuel capincluding a closure and a seal coupled to the closure to engage thefiller neck, the closure including a core and a handle coupled to thecore, the core including a body member sized to be received in thefiller neck and a lug coupled to the body member and engageable with thefiller neck, the handle being adapted to move the lug between an engagedposition securing the closure in an axially inner position along thecentral axis and a disengaged position permitting the closure to movebetween the axially inner position and an axially outer position alongthe central axis, the fuel cap further including means abutting thefiller neck for moving the closure relative to the filler neck to theaxially outer petition while the lug is in the disengaged position. 6.The system of claim 5, wherein the moving means includes a head membercoupled to the closure, a foot member engageable with the filler neck,and a flexible connector including two spaced-apart flexible bodymembers integrally coupled to the head and foot members.
 7. The systemof claim 5, wherein the moving means includes a spring positioned to liebetween the closure and the filler neck.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the spring is coupled to the closure and engages the fillerneck.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the core is positioned to liewithin the spring.
 10. A fuel tank closure system comprising a fillerneck having a central axis and an inner wall defining a hollow interiorin fluid communication with an interior region of a fuel tank and a fuelcap engageable with the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, the fuel capincluding a closure, a seal coupled to the closure to engage the fillerneck, and a spring, the closure including a core and a handle coupled tothe core, the core including a body member sized to be received in thefiller neck and a lug coupled to the body member and engageable with thefiller neck, the handle being adapted to move the lug between an engagedposition securing the closure in an axially inner position along thecentral axis and a disengaged position permitting the closure to movebetween the axially inner position and an axially outer position alongthe central axis, the spring including a foot member engageable with thefiller neck, a head member engageable with the closure, and a flexibleconnector coupled to the foot member and the head member to move theclosure relative to the filler neck to the axially outer position whilethe lug is in the disengaged position.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the foot member is ring-shaped.
 12. The system of claim 10,wherein the head member is ring-shaped.
 13. The system of claim 10,wherein the flexible connector is made of plastics material and integralwith the head and foot members.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein theflexible connector includes spaced-apart flexible body members.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the body members are diametricallyspaced-apart.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein each flexible bodymember includes a first pair of arms coupled to the head member, asecond pair of arms coupled to the foot member, and a web member coupledto the first and second pair of arms.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the first pair of arms are convex in an axially inner directionalong the central axis and the second pair of arms are convex in anaxially outer direction along the central axis.
 18. The system of claim16, wherein first pair of arms are spaced apart from the second pair ofarm.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein each web member is positionedto lie between the respective first and second pair of arms.